WESTOE AWAY.

By Paddy Douglas

Score Flatters Westoe.

Westoe away(or should I say South Shields Westoe!). Apologies for the late report. Kick off 3pm and as I had been out enjoying myself I did not see selection on Thursday night but it had changed by Saturday anyway with various reasons for unavailability! So Mark Bentham came in at hooker and Jason Dale at prop back after getting banned for getting punched around the head! Adam Ridley at centre with Matt Rawlinson on the wing. Akar Omar in the second row & Robbie Greenwell back on the bench and the latest Kell in Tom on the bench ready to make his 1st team debut.
It was a Saturday so it was windy and Westoe went up the slope with then wind in the first half. Gateshead were giving a good account of themselves and after 6 minutes Scott Cartner kicked a penalty 3-0. As is out habit we gave a penalty away almost immediately 3-3.
Gateshead continued to do well with the scrum looking good and good territory in the Westoe half. However we lost possession and then missed a tackle or two for a soft try, converted 3-10. Scott kicked another penalty 6-10 then Westoe did the same 6-13.
In the Westoe half Gateshead had the Westoe scrum in trouble on their own ball and Tony Kennedy snaffled the ball up and put them under pressure. It looked like the ball was knocked forward out of his hands but it was played on and after pressure Westoe drove a lineout over the line for a score. 6-18. Alex Surrey hurt his neck in a tackle and had to come off so on came Robbie Greenwell who got stuck straight in with some good tackles.
Again we lost possession in the Westoe half and they went up the other end and scored. Half time 6-25.
Second half we had the wind and hopefully see the ball put into the Westoe half. However Westoe got a penalty and kicked to the corner, drive and try 6-30.
Gateshead gave as good as they got and scored a cracking try after some good ball and support work for Conner Anderson to score in the corner & Scott kicked the conversion. 13-30. Mark Bentham was carded just after Cameron Nyembega came on so he went to hooker for 10 minutes. Robbie Greenwell got a knock on the bonce and had to come off so on came tom kell for his debut. Initially at flanker but sense prevailed and Chris Owen went on the flank with Tom at 9.
Gateshead attacked but the Westoe defence was good and a score didn’t come. Westoe got a penalty and kicked to the corner and scored their third lineout drive try.13-35.
Gateshead spent the last 10 minutes in the Westoe half but couldn’t get the score they deserved and as luck would have it Westoe went down the other end and got the final score to end the match 13-42.
To be honest the score flattered Westoe but they defended well and ran hard & straight in the forwards with excellent support work. In addition I thought the ref was poor and especially at the breakdown and our lads aren’t experienced enough yet to take advantage of this whereas Westoe were. So hat’s off to them!
But we had seven under 21’s on the pitch on Saturday so it bodes well for the future. I believe there were the same number in the 3rds too! Robbie Greenwell looked good when he came on but a knock on the heed will probably keep him out this week. Jason Dale did well at prop. Tom Race put another good shift in as did Mark Bentham and Akar Omar looked more like the promise he showed last season. tom kell looked lively and confident and didn’t look out of place and didn’t seemed fazed by the occasion at all.
However in the first half we lost possession in the Westoe half three times and they scored two tries and a penalty from this. We can’t afford to do that and expect to win so we need to more street wise and that will come with experience. Can’t fault the effort again and I can’t think who got MOM. The name just eludes me. Can you remember Uncle Graeme??
So us Old farts were well entertained by our friends in Shields and Kevin B did get the beers in! Rovers at home next Saturday. Lads you better get your legs and chests waxed as there will be 200 women at the club for Lady’s Day. Get your ear plugs on too!